When Yue Zhongqi received the Emperor's secret letter, he was training the musket battalion at the drill ground. The messenger, travel-worn, knelt on one knee and presented the sealed letter. Yue Zhongqi unfolded the letter, his gaze sweeping over the handwriting, his brows gradually furrowing.
The letter read: "The Khorchin Mongols are colluding with the Dzungars, intending to invade the border. You must immediately lead your elite troops north to defend the Hetao region and cut off their southward advance." It was sealed with a bright red jade seal at the end, and the calligraphy was powerful and vigorous.
"Order the entire army: the musketeer battalion and the cavalry battalion must prepare immediately and set off at dawn tomorrow!" Yue Zhongqi ordered in a deep voice, then turned to his deputy Zhao Hu and said, "You stay behind at the main camp and guard against spies. If there is any unusual activity, send a message by carrier pigeon."
Zhao Hu clasped his hands in agreement: "This subordinate obeys the order. General, the Mongol cavalry are swift as the wind. Although our army is well-equipped, our strength is far inferior..." Yue Zhongqi patted his shoulder and said calmly: "Warfare is based on deception. If they dare to come, I will make sure they never return."
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The Hetao Plain is shrouded in yellow sand, obscuring the sun.
Just as Yue Zhongqi's troops arrived at the foot of Yinshan Mountain, a scout urgently reported: "General, we have spotted approximately three thousand Mongol Khorchin cavalry thirty li away, led by Taiji Lashi!" Yue Zhongqi narrowed his eyes; the dark mass of horses was vaguely visible through the dust. "They've come after all," he sneered, turning to Li Tiezhu, the captain of the musket battalion, and said, "Proceed according to plan. Remember—shoot the horses' legs!"
Before long, Lashi arrived opposite Yue Zhongqi. He reined in his horse and shouted, "Yue Zhongqi! We have no enmity between us, why should we risk our lives for Yongzheng? Why not join us and work together to accomplish great things!"
Yue Zhongqi responded loudly: "Lashi Taiji, the Emperor has treated the Mongol tribes well, why did you listen to slander and rebel?" Lashi laughed: "The Eighth Prince has already allied with us, and Yongzheng's fate is sealed!" With that, he brandished his sword and charged forward.
The earth trembled. Lashi charged ahead, brandishing his scimitar and shouting, "Kill all these Qing soldiers!"
However, when they charged within a hundred paces, rows of barricades suddenly appeared in the Qing army's ranks, and the musket battalion fired in unison, with lead bullets swarming towards the horses like locusts.
Yue Zhongqi's eyes turned cold, and he shouted, "Archery Battalion, three-volley fire!" The front-row soldiers knelt down and fired. Before the smoke had cleared, the second row had already taken over, and the barrage of bullets was like a dense weave.
The warhorses neighed and fell to the ground, throwing the charging formation into chaos. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yue Zhongqi led his cavalry out from the flank, heading straight for Lashi's central army.
The two armies fought until sunset, and the Khorchin forces suffered more than half their casualties. Seeing the situation was unfavorable, Lashi sounded the horn and retreated.
Yue Zhongqi did not pursue them relentlessly. Instead, he ordered his men to bring the captured Mongol generals to the front of the battlefield and loudly proclaimed, "Go back and tell your Taiji that the Emperor, mindful of the many years of obedience of the Mongol tribes, has only punished the ringleaders this time. If they dare to invade the border again, don't blame the army for trampling the grasslands!" The prisoners turned ashen-faced and kowtowed repeatedly.
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The Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City.
Yongzheng looked at the secret report delivered by the Imperial Guard and sneered repeatedly. On the table lay the bronze token intercepted from the Nian residence and the Eighth Prince's secret letter. Su Peisheng whispered, "Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince is colluding with foreign tribes, and the evidence is irrefutable..." Yongzheng raised his hand to interrupt, "No rush. Wait until they all confess, then I will wipe them all out in one fell swoop." He looked northwest and murmured, "Fourteenth Brother, don't disappoint me."
Snow and wind raged across the Tibetan border.
The Fourteenth Prince, Yunzhi, reined in his horse and stood on the mountain ridge, gazing at the distant camp of the Dzungar army. The cold wind whipped up his cloak, revealing the flintlock musket hanging at his waist—a new type of firearm personally bestowed upon him by the Emperor before his departure.
A guard stepped forward and reported: "Sir, a scout reports that the vanguard of the Dzungars has reached the valley ten miles away, with about five thousand cavalry. The leader is none other than Galdan Tsering's nephew, Little Tsering Dundobu."
“Little Ce Ling?” Yun Ti sneered. “His uncle Galdan was defeated by the Emperor back then, and now he dares to come and die.” He raised his hand and waved, “Order the cannons to be prepared, and the cavalry to ambush on both flanks. Once they enter the canyon, we’ll catch them off guard!”
Xiao Ce Ling Dun Duo Bu, mounted on his horse, gazed at the Qing army's disciplined formation, his heart filled with suspicion. His lieutenant whispered, "Taiji, the Qing army is well-equipped; perhaps we should retreat temporarily?" Xiao Ce Ling Dun Duo Bu retorted angrily, "What are you afraid of! They have come from afar, their men and horses are exhausted; this is the perfect opportunity for a surprise attack!" He raised his scimitar high and roared, "Warriors, charge!" In an instant, the earth trembled.
Suddenly, a cannon roar echoed through the valley, and boulders rolled down from both sides, blocking the retreat. Immediately afterward, dozens of cannons fired simultaneously, and cannonballs rained down on the enemy lines, sending flames soaring into the sky.
Xiao Ce Lingdunduobu was terrified and shouted, "Oh no, we've fallen into a trap! Retreat!" But it was too late. Qing cavalry charged out from both sides, the roar of flintlock muskets and the cold glint of sabers weaving a web of death.
The battle raged until dawn, leaving the battlefield littered with the corpses of the Dzungar army. Xiao Celingdunduobu, wounded by several arrows, was rescued by his personal guards at great personal risk and fled north in panic. Yunti did not pursue, but merely gazed at the carnage, muttering, "These firearms my fourth brother gave me are indeed formidable..."
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The battle report reached the capital.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, after reading Yunti's memorial, Emperor Yongzheng finally showed a slight smile.
He picked up his brush and wrote in vermilion ink: "Fourteenth brother, your loyalty and bravery are commendable. You are permitted to continue guarding Tibet." Then he smiled at Su Peisheng and said: "Tomorrow morning at court, I will personally handle the 'family affairs'."
The next day, as soon as the Eighth Prince, Yinzhi, stepped into the Qianqing Palace, he was swarmed by the imperial guards. Emperor Yongzheng, looking down at him, coldly declared, "Yinzhi has colluded with foreign tribes and plotted a rebellion. His title is hereby revoked, and he is to be imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court!" The entire court was in uproar, but no one dared to speak out. Yinzhi, his face ashen, was dragged out of the hall, when he suddenly burst into wild laughter: "Yinzhen! You have harmed your own brothers; you will surely be punished by Heaven!"
Yongzheng ignored him and turned to his ministers, saying, "The Northwest has been pacified, and the Mongols have submitted. Issue my decree to reward the three armies. Yue Zhongqi is promoted to First-Class Duke, and the Fourteenth Prince is granted the title of Prince!" The ministers shouted "Long live the Emperor!" Their voices shook the rooftops.
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